Shophouse Ramen Pop Up

Whoever said chicken soup was good for the soul clearly never had a bowl of ramen. There is nothing more physically or mentally soothing than a big bowl of this Japanese healer and for a short period of time in February you can try out Pat Breens’ ode to this nectarous dish.

Tasmanian born Pat Breen develops dishes for the site Eat This Food along with photographer Sean Fennesy and Jess Lillico working the graphics. The trio have produced a visually stunning and mouth-watering website.  Lucky for us, Pat is bringing his dishes out from behind the internet glass and into Collingwood for us to taste.

Working out of Smith Streets’ Storm in a Tea Cup (which has seen a few pop ups of late), these uber-bloggers cum food fanatics bring us Shophouse – a ramen pop up offering a limited yet thoughtful menu of three ramen dishes: pork ($10.00), chicken ($10.00) and a chilled vegan ramen ($9.00). Pescatarians aren’t forgotten and can pay a little extra to have some crab thrown in.

There’s a couple of starters  – don’t leave without having a Chang inspired pork bun ($5.00) and a peach and gingersnap pie with milk jam for dessert. I jumped head first into the pork ramen: belly and shoulder slow cooked with choy sum, nori, egg and spring onions swimming in a sweet and salty white miso broth. The king of ramen though is the hand made rye noodles – is there a Japanese word for al dente?

Shophouse pack away their noodles on the 10 February so get in quick and get there early – they had to hang the ‘sold out!’ sign on the door the first night.

SHOPHOUSE RAMEN (STORM IN A TEACUP)
48a Smith Street, Collingwood
12pm – 10.00pm daily until the 10 February